To secure the future of a Rural Generalist (RG) profession, ACRRM calls for specific investment to attract rural, remote, and regional students to a career supporting the healthcare needs of communities outside the urban landscape.
The proposal is made in the College’s pre-budget submission to the Federal Government. It includes $7.5 million over three years to enable the College to design and implement an awareness program for rural and remote secondary school students, and $17.25 million over three years for a scholarship scheme to support rural and remote students commencing a medical degree.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says attracting the right people to a career in RG medicine earlier, will help guarantee more doctors providing specialised healthcare to communities outside the urban landscape.
“Currently, there is no continuity of programs to inform and provide ongoing support to rural secondary school students through their pre-tertiary journey,” Dr Halliday says.
"This is particularly important, given the strong evidence that students from a rural background are far more likely to return to rural practice. We know that Fellows of ACRRM are significantly more likely to be based in rural and remote communities than those without an ACRRM Fellowship.
“Many rural students don’t have medical role models in their circles, and they either are not aware of Rural Generalist Medicine as a career path, or they believe it is unattainable within their particularly circumstances.
“We need to grow awareness of the benefits of a career in rural generalism, and to be effective at doing that we need to fund a program that builds strong local relationships to support students through their high school years, into university, and beyond.
"With its strong understanding and linkages to rural and remote communities, the College is ideally placed to design and deliver this program.
“Further to that, we are asking for funding to deliver 200 scholarships valued at $25,000 each for rural, remote and First Nations students, and cover associated administrative support.
“We believe that financially supporting these students will encourage them to chase their dreams to serve the healthcare needs of rural, remote and First Nations communities and support them with the additional costs they face moving from their community to a tertiary institution.
“ACRRM is committed to attracting the right doctors to provide excellent healthcare services in rural, remote and First Nations communities, so people don’t have to travel so far to access the specific care they need and deserve,” Dr Halliday says.
This funding request supports one of the four main priorities in the ACRRM pre-budget submission. Find out more here.
ENDS